'Mare of Easttown' crosses paths with 'Task' as Julianne Nicholson boards its Season 2 cast
Washington DC, July 10
Julianne Nicholson has joined the second season of the HBO detective drama 'Task' as Lori Ross from 'Mare of Easttown,' hinting towards a major crossover between both hit series, reported Variety.
While "Task" was not directly connected to "Mare of Easttown," both series hail from creator and showrunner Brad Ingelsby and take place in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia.
The character arc of Nicholson's role is still under wraps. The vague Season 2 logline reads as follows: "Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) takes the helm of a new task force, but the deeper the operation runs, the harder it is to tell who's the target."
Aside from Ruffalo, Nicholson joins previously announced Season 2 cast members Mahershala Ali, Harry Melling, Adam Nagaitis, Aminah Nieves and Edgar Ramirez.
Meanwhile, 'Mare of Easttown' premiered on HBO in 2021 and starred Kate Winslet as Marianne 'Mare' Sheehan, a police detective investigating the murder of a teenage mother while her own life bursts at the seams.
Nicholson played Lori, Mare's best friend, whose son becomes embroiled in the murder investigation.
According to the outlet, the makers have teased a second season of 'Mare of Easttown,' which was designed as a miniseries. In 2024, HBO's drama head Francesca Orsi said there were "early discussions" about continuing the show, and earlier this year Winslet said about a second season, "I think we probably will do it," even suggesting it could film in 2027.
Nicholson is a two-time Emmy winner, whose other award came from her guest-starring role as Dance Mom in the HBO comedy 'Hacks.' She also recently starred in 'Paradise' as the tech billionaire Sinatra, and as Kate in 'Dope Girls.'
Nicholson's credits also include 'Winning Time: Rise of the Laker Dynasty,' 'The Outsider,' 'Boardwalk Empire' and the upcoming Brad Pitt movie 'The Riders.'
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is interesting, but I wish HBO would just confirm a second season of Mare of Easttown already. That show was perfection—Kate Winslet was phenomenal. The tease about 2027 feels so far away! Task seems good, but I'm more invested in Mare's story. 😔
As someone who binge-watched Mare of Easttown during lockdown, this crossover news is thrilling! Lori was such a tragic but sympathetic character. Seeing her alongside Mark Ruffalo's character in Task could bring some serious emotional weight. Ingelsby knows how to write complex working-class stories. 💯
I'm skeptical about this crossover. Mare of Easttown was a self-contained masterpiece, and Task Season 1 didn't quite reach those heights for me. Hoping Nicholson's presence elevates it, but mixing characters feels like a gimmick. Still, Mark Ruffalo and Mahershala Ali? That's an insane cast lineup. Let's see...
Love seeing Emmy-winning actors getting more work! Julianne Nicholson is criminally underrated. Also, Brad Ingelsby writing about working-class Philadelphia suburbs—there's something universal about those stories that resonates even here in India. The struggle, the loyalty, the secrets... excited for this! 🙌
The logline about "harder to tell who's the target" sounds intriguing. Nicholson's role in Mare was so layered—she could bring that same depth here. But I'll wait for reviews before diving in. HBO has been hit or miss lately with their crime dramas.
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