Why Mark Ruffalo Ate ‘a Lot of Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches’ to Prep for New Show

Mark Ruffalo, who stars in the HBO crime drama miniseries Task, recently revealed how he prepared for his role as an FBI agent in the show by eating “a lot of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.”

The upcoming show is helmed by Brad Ingelsby, best known for his work on Kate Winslet’s Mare of Easttown. It follows Tom Brandis (Ruffalo), an FBI agent who leads a task force to thwart a string of violent robberies spearheaded by Robbie Prendergast (Tom Pelphrey).

Mark Ruffalo’s unique way to prepare for Task

Mark Ruffalo recently gave an interview at the All The President’s Men benefit reading supporting CWP and preservation of West Park. He revealed that he explored Philadelphia’s cuisine while preparing for his role in Task, which is set in the city.

“I ate a lot of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches,” Ruffalo told PEOPLE. “I just put a bunch of weight on.”

In addition, The Avengers actor shared that he consulted FBI agent Scott Duffey to ensure accuracy in his portrayal of Tom Brandis. “I spent a lot of time with FBI agent Scott Duffey,” he said. “That’s about the most I did.”

Ruffalo said that he was now focused on the press tour for the series. “I’m really excited about it,” he further stated.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brad Ingelsby revealed that Ruffalo “was at the top of” the actor’s list while conceptualizing Tom Brandis’ character. The showrunner realized “someone extremely specific” was needed for the role. “The guy’s from the Northeast, he’s humble, he has a very specific perspective on life, and he has adopted children,” Ingelsby shared.

Task is set to premiere on HBO on September 7, 2025. Subsequent episodes will be released every week until October 19, 2025. The series will also stream on Max. In addition to starring in the series, Ruffalo serves as an executive producer alongside Ingelsby.

Besides Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, the series also features Emilia Jones, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Thuso Mbedu, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Raúl Castillo, Silvia Dionicio, and Martha Plimpton.