Image Source: Deadline
Task is expanding its Season 2 ensemble with two notable additions. HBO has cast Rose Rollins as a new series regular, while Carol Santiago is joining the acclaimed crime drama in a recurring role.
The casting news was reported by Deadline on September 10, 2026. The upcoming season will continue the Philadelphia-area story created by Brad Ingelsby, with Mark Ruffalo returning as law enforcement leader Tom Brandis.
Task Season 2 Reveals Powerful New Cast Additions
Rollins, known for her work in Long Slow Exhale, will portray Evie Barners, described as the deeply devoted wife of Eddie Barnes. Mahershala Ali plays Eddie, a character positioned within the series’ expanding network of families, investigators and suspects.
Santiago will play Ana Salazar, an expectant mother and friend to Maria, a character portrayed by Alaíde. The role gives Santiago a place in the show’s emotionally layered portrait of working-class communities affected by violence and criminal investigations.
Although details about the new characters’ individual storylines remain limited, both additions could bring fresh personal stakes to the drama. Evie’s connection to Eddie may offer a closer look at the family life surrounding the series’ criminal underworld, while Ana’s pregnancy and friendship with Maria could introduce another intimate perspective.
What to Expect From the Explosive New Season
Task is set in the working-class suburbs outside Philadelphia. In Season 1, Tom Brandis formed a task force to pursue a crew of masked robbers responsible for a series of violent crimes across the region. The criminals were led by a working-class family man, creating a central conflict that blurred the line between ordinary community life and organized crime.
Season 2 will place Brandis at the helm of a new task force. According to the reported premise, the deeper the operation runs, the more difficult it becomes to determine who the real target is. That setup suggests another tense investigation filled with shifting loyalties, hidden motives and escalating pressure.
The returning cast includes an impressive group of performers:
- Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis
- Mahershala Ali as Eddie Barnes
- Julianne Nicholson as Lori Ross
- Harry Melling as Brennan Boylan
- Adam Nagaitis as Luke Clemmons
- Aminah Nieves as Nataly Zamora
- Edgar Ramírez as Miguel Contreras
- Martha Plimpton as Kathleen McGinty
- Tim Blake Nelson as Denny Coughlin
- Jharrel Jerome as Jordan Barnes
- Brían F. O’Byrne as Charlie Boylan
- Bethlehem Million as Lisa Barnes
Additional cast members include Kevin Dunn, Andrew Russel, Alaíde, Rocío Guzmán, Regina Nava and Stephanie Sigman. The broad ensemble reflects the series’ emphasis on intersecting families, law enforcement figures and community members.
Brad Ingelsby Leads HBO’s Gritty Crime Drama
Ingelsby created Task following his work on HBO’s Emmy-winning crime drama Mare of Easttown. He is returning as writer, showrunner and executive producer for the second season. Paul Lee and Mark Roybal are also executive producing for wiip, alongside Jeremiah Zagar, Ruffalo and Ron Schmidt.
Nicole Jordan-Webber and Karen Wacker serve as co-executive producers. The creative team’s involvement points to a continued focus on character-driven storytelling, tense investigations and the moral complications that define the series.
For HBO, the new casting strengthens a drama that already combines a high-profile cast with a grounded regional setting. Rollins and Santiago’s arrivals also expand the show’s emotional reach, giving Season 2 new relationships to explore as Brandis confronts another dangerous case.
Task Season 2 Cast: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is joining the Task Season 2 cast?
Rose Rollins is joining as a series regular, and Carol Santiago has been cast in a recurring role.
Who will Rose Rollins play in Task?
Rollins will portray Evie Barners, the devoted wife of Eddie Barnes, played by Mahershala Ali.
Who is Carol Santiago playing?
Santiago will play Ana Salazar, an expectant mother and friend to Maria.
Who leads Task Season 2?
Mark Ruffalo returns as Tom Brandis, who takes charge of a new task force in the second season.
Who created Task?
Brad Ingelsby created the series and continues as its writer, showrunner and executive producer.
