Two sides of the same coin collide in an epic family drama set in the outer reaches of Philadelphia, otherwise known as Brad Ingelsby’s home.
Ingelsby is the creator of HBO’s “Task,” his follow-up to “Mare of Easttown” on the same network. Both take place in his native Philadelphia suburbs. And both take great efforts to get the procedural aspect of law enforcement and the culture of outer Philly right.
The limited series follows FBI agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) as he assembles a task force to arrest Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey), who has orchestrated a criminal ring of robbers and drug runners. He is also a family man, like Brandis. And those quiet moments of family interaction of these two men on different sides of the law, between the car chases and shootouts, are where Ingelsby’s writing shines.
The Knockturnal spoke to Ingelsby as well as cast members Emilia Jones, Silvia Dionicio, Raúl Castillo, Sam Keeley, Jamie McShane, Martha Plimpton, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, and Alison Oliver.
The actors all celebrated Ingelsby’s commitment to authenticity and character building. Practically everyone heaped praise on their co-star Ruffalo, who is apparently the nicest guy in Hollywood, according to multiple cast members.
Watch the entire interview to hear the onset of Ruffalo stories, how actors frequented Philly bars to get the accents right, the collaboration with real-life Philadelphia law enforcement, and more.
