Mark Ruffalo Reveals the Thing He Learned Working Alongside an FBI Agent for His Role in Task 

Ruffalo spent time with a real-life FBI employee to portray fictional agent Tom Brandis in the HBO series

Mark Ruffalo in New York on Aug. 25, 2025. Credit :Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Mark Ruffalo reveals what he picked up from a real-life FBI agent while preparing for Task
The actor plays FBI agent Tom Brandis on the HBO miniseries from creator Brad Ingelsby
The seven-episode series airs Sundays at 9 p.m ET and is also available to stream on HBO Max

Mark Ruffalo picked up some real-world knowledge while preparing for his role on the new crime drama Task.

PEOPLE recently caught up with the actor at the show’s New York City premiere at the Perelman Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 4. During the conversation, Ruffalo, 57, revealed what he learned from hanging out with an actual FBI employee as he prepared to play the fictional FBI agent, Tom Brandis.

“I learned that the best FBI agents have a lot of empathy,” Ruffalo said.

From Left: Tom Pelphrey, Mark Ruffalo and Brad Ingelsby in New York City on Sept. 4, 2025.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

The I Know This Much Is True star previously told PEOPLE that he spent time with one person in particular ahead of this most recent performance on the HBO miniseries.

“I spent a lot of time with FBI agent Scott Duffey. That’s about the most I did,” he said at the All the President’s Men reading to benefit the Center at West Park in N.Y.C. on Aug. 25.

The Marvel star also said that he became well-acquainted with the food scene in Philadelphia, where the show takes place. “I ate a lot of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. I just put a bunch of weight on,” he recalled.

Mark Ruffalo on ‘Task’.

According to HBO, Task is “set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia,” where Tom Brandis leads a task force attempting “to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man.”

The drama also stars Ozark alum Tom Pelphrey as Robbie Prendergast, a father-of-two who is embroiled in a life of crime.

The seven-episode series comes from Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby, who is an executive producer alongside with Ruffalo.

The Task ensemble also includes CODA star Emilia Jones, Wednesday‘s Jamie McShane, The Woman King breakout Thuso Mbedu, House of the Dragon actor Fabien Frankel, Raúl Castillo from Looking and Martha Plimpton.

Task airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.