HBO's Hit Crime Drama Is Officially Changing Its Formula in Season 2

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Martha Plimpton as Kathleen McGinty sitting at her office desk wearing glasses in Task

Published Jun 23, 2026, 7:18 PM EDT

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

When Task premiered on HBO last September, audiences were quickly drawn into the dark crime drama. The show isn't merely about a task force headed by FBI agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) and his quest to find a missing child; it's also a heartwrenching look at the long-lasting effects of violence and trauma. With a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and positive reviews, any initial plans to keep the show a miniseries were changed when HBO greenlit a second season in November 2025. Yet recent news confirms that Task will be switching up its existing formula with changes both in front of and behind the camera before its return.

'Task' Season 1 Embraced a Certain Perspective Both On and Off-Screen

Task is created and written by Brad Ingelsby, who was also the brains behind another massive HBO hit, Mare of Easttown. While one of the greatest sources of conflict in Season 1 stems from a male-dominated motorcycle gang known as the Dark Hearts, the story also explores the complexities of fatherhood and a man's perceived responsibility to provide for and protect his family.

Tom, in particular, grapples with his role as a father, as does Robbie Prendergrast (Tom Pelphrey), who ends up positioned on the other side of the law and whose journey surprisingly mirrors Tom's in many ways. The women of the series, including Robbie's niece, Maeve (Emilia Jones), task force member Lizzie Stover (Alison Oliver), and Eryn (Margarita Levieva), a young mother with close personal ties to the Dark Hearts, are caught up in the actions of the men in their lives — and often become collateral damage as a result of hubris or pride. While Season 1 of Task operated under a very male-centric focus, it seems like Ingelsby and HBO have now decided to go in a different direction for Season 2.

'Task's Season 2 Will Feature an All-Female Directing Team

This week, it was announced that Task Season 2 will be helmed by an all-women directing team. Salli Richardson-Whitfield, who directed three episodes of Season 1, will return as executive producer and director, and will be joined by Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie), Clare Kilner (House of the Dragon), and Kitty Green (The Assistant). Richardson-Whitfield was the first Black woman nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series for her work on HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty; she also serves as an executive producer and director on The Gilded Age. Meanwhile, Banks-Davies is a BAFTA-award-winning director whose name may be familiar to crime thriller fans thanks to her most recent direction of The Night Manager Season 2. Task already had a winning formula in Season 1, so it's exciting that the creative team is willing to bring in new perspectives.

All we know about Task Season 2's storyline at this point is that Ruffalo's Tom Brandis will return to form another task force to investigate a different crime, while Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Édgar Ramírez have also been added to the cast. It's risky for Task to shake things up off-screen, but Season 2 could offer an even more well-rounded narrative with different perspectives behind the camera. With no release date confirmed, we won't know how this change will play out, but it's safe to assume there are even more incredible episodes on the way.