‘Task’ reportedly spotted filming second season in Center City
The show created by Berwyn's Brad Ingelsby stars Mark Ruffalo reprising his first season role as a tenderhearted FBI agent, Tom Brandis. Mahershala Ali joins the cast in the second season.
The HBO crime drama Task was reportedly spotted filming in Center City on Tuesday, according to users on Reddit. Onlookers captured a photo of a film crew on Market Street between 17th and 18th Streets and identified the production.
Task has been shooting its second season throughout the Philadelphia region this summer, from Manayunk to Wissahickon Valley Park. The show from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, who grew up and lives in Berwyn, stars Mark Ruffalo as a tenderhearted FBI agent leading a task force.
The first season saw him investigate a string of robberies led by trash collector Robbie Prendergrast (Ozark actor Tom Pelphrey) while this season pits him against Eddie Barnes, a potentially shady DEA agent played by Mahershala Ali, the Oscar winner behind Moonlight, Green Book, and season 3 of True Detective.
Next, it appears the production will film in Upper Darby on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, according to the Upper Darby Township’s Facebook page. The post details temporary parking restrictions in the area as the crew will reportedly shoot in and around the Llanerch Diner.
Ruffalo and Ali have been seen around Philly this summer with one attentive fan capturing Ali jumping rope in Manayunk. The Delco-set series prides itself on filming locally, with season 1 locations spanning Pennsylvania, from Ralph’s Italian Restaurant in South Philly to Bangor Quarry in Northampton County.
Though few details have emerged about the plot, Task will crossover with Mare of Easttown, with actor Julianne Nicholson reprising her role as Lori Ross, who played the best friend to Kate Winslet’s Mare. Other new faces cast in season 2 include Edgar Ramirez (The Assassination of Gianni Versace), Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), Henry Melling (Pillion), Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Aminah Nieves (1923), and Kevin Dunn (Veep).
This fall, Task is up for six Emmys at the awards ceremony in September across various categories, including cinematography, picture editing, directing (for Salli Richardson Whitfield), and writing (recognizing Ingelsby). Ruffalo — a two-time Emmy winner — received a nod for his lead performance and Pelphrey was nominated as a supporting actor.
