Task season 2 goes full HBO crossover with Mare of Easttown

So, HBO has gone and done something a bit out of left field for the second season of their crime drama Task. They’re crossing it over with Mare of Easttown—yes, really, the Emmy-winning Kate Winslet show from a few years back. Apparently everyone’s getting in on the connected TV universe game these days, and honestly, I didn’t have this pairing on my bingo card.

What’s Actually Happening?

Task season 2 is currently filming and will now officially feature Julianne Nicholson back as Lori Ross, her character from Mare of Easttown. That means, for the first time, the two Brad Ingelsby-created series are colliding on-screen. If you’re wondering how it makes sense—well, both shows are set in the general Philadelphia area, even if so far there’s never been any overlap. Not a shared relative, not a nod, nothing… until now.

How Did We Get Here?

If you missed Mare of Easttown (where have you been?), it was one of those ‘must-watch it now before someone spoils it for you’ shows from 2021, starring Kate Winslet as a small-town detective with more baggage than the Arrivals carousel at Heathrow. It ran for seven episodes, scooped up critical praise, and landed six Primetime Emmy nominations, winning three—including one for Nicholson as Supporting Actress. That said, it was always billed as a limited series.

Winslet herself teased not long ago that a full-on sequel isn’t happening any time soon. Her words: "It wouldn’t actually be this year. I reckon it would end up being 2027 to film it." So, Mare fans are waiting a while yet.

Where Does Task Fit Into All This?

Task launched last year with Mark Ruffalo in the lead as Tom Brandis, a bruised FBI agent running an anti-robbery task force in the Philly suburbs. It went down well with critics and managed six Emmy nods at its own first try. The second season, besides bringing in Nicholson, will see the addition of Mahershala Ali, Harry Melling, Adam Nagaitis, Aminah Nieves, and—bit of a trivia nugget—a star from the Bourne Ultimatum films (though, they're not saying who just yet).

• Task’s season 2 plot: Tom Brandis is heading up a different task force, but the deeper things go, the less clear it is who’s actually being hunted.
• Mare of Easttown highlights: Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan, Julianne Nicholson as Lori Ross, Emmy-winning performances, and a lot of bleak Pennsylvania weather.

Fun bit: Back in 2025, showrunner Brad Ingelsby floated the idea of the two leads crossing paths, saying it ‘wouldn’t surprise him to see Mare Sheehan meeting Tom Brandis’. At the time, it sounded more like pub chat than an actual plan, but here we are.

Both Task and Mare of Easttown are available on HBO Max for anyone who wants to catch up (or work out how on earth these characters are about to collide).