Mark Ruffalo is diving deep into his latest role — and a Philly cheesesteak or two along the way.

The 57-year-old actor stars in HBO’s new crime drama Task as FBI agent Tom Brandis. Ahead of stepping into the part, Ruffalo spent time with retired FBI special agent Scott Duffey, whose guidance, he says, offered more than just technical knowledge. “I learnt that the best FBI agents have a lot of empathy,” Ruffalo shared.

Even when he wasn’t training with Duffey, Ruffalo immersed himself in Philadelphia, where the show was filmed. “I ate a lot of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches,” he admitted. “I just put on a bunch of weight.”

The seven-episode series, created by Mare of Easttown’s Brad Ingelsby, follows Brandis as he leads a task force determined to shut down a series of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man. Ruffalo also serves as an executive producer on the project.

Task features a strong ensemble cast, including Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) as Robbie, a father of two entangled in crime, alongside Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Thuso Mbedu, Sam Keeley, Alison Oliver, Fabien Frankel, Raúl Castillo, Phoebe Fox, and Silvia Dionicio.

In the series trailer, FBI boss Kathleen, played by Martha Plimpton, warns, “We need to find this crew before a turf war escalates.” Meanwhile, Pelphrey’s Robbie confides in his partner, revealing his motive: “I’m going to take their money so we can have a better life.”

With Ruffalo at the centre and a cast packed with talent, Taskbrings Ingelsby’s gritty storytelling back to Philadelphia, this time through the lens of an FBI-led pursuit of justice.