Since Mare of Easttown captivated audiences in 2021, fans have clamored for more of the gritty Pennsylvania crime saga. While creator Brad Ingelsby has been cautious about a direct sequel, he's now delivering something unexpected: a crossover that links his hit miniseries to his latest HBO drama, Task.
Emmy winner Julianne Nicholson is set to reprise her role as Lori Ross in the upcoming second season of Task. For those who need a refresher, Lori was the best friend of Kate Winslet's Detective Mare Sheehan—until a devastating crime tore their relationship apart. Her appearance in Task confirms that both shows exist in the same fictional universe, a rarity for prestige television that's more common in superhero franchises or procedural dramas.
Ingelsby has previously hinted at this connection, describing Task as feeling "like it lives in the same world as Mare." Now, with Nicholson's casting, that shared world is official.
What Is 'Task' About?
The first season of Task starred Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis, an FBI agent and former Catholic priest grappling with the recent death of his wife at the hands of their adopted son. Brandis leads a task force investigating a string of violent robberies targeting drug houses operated by the Dark Hearts, a local biker gang. The unlikely mastermind behind the heists is Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), a garbage collector nursing a bitter grudge against the gang. By season's end, Brandis solves the case, but a mole on his team complicates the victory.
Season 2 will see Brandis running a new task force, with a stellar cast joining Ruffalo: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Harry Melling (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Adam Nagaitis (Chernobyl), Aminah Nieves (1923), and Edgar Ramirez (Zero Dark Thirty).
Will 'Mare of Easttown' Return?
Ingelsby has acknowledged the difficulty of crafting a second season that lives up to the original's acclaim. However, earlier this year, Winslet expressed optimism, saying a follow-up has a "strong likelihood" and could potentially film in 2027. For now, fans can get their fix of the Mare of Easttown universe through Task.
The second season of Task is currently in development, with no release date announced yet. Stay tuned for updates.
For more on the expanding TV landscape, check out our coverage of The Lady Grace Mysteries Season 2 and From Season 4's shocking finale.
