Aahana Swrup
Mark Ruffalo stars in HBO Max’s ‘Task,’ a series in which he portrays the role of Tom Brandis. The co-protagonist is a priest-turned-FBI agent who begins the narrative by drowning out his sorrows in bad habits. A recent tragedy in his family has left the man grieving and going through the motions of his life. However, he’s shocked out of this self-destructive routine after his boss assigns him a pressing case. A string of robberies has overtaken the Pennsylvania small town with robbers specifically targeting drug houses as their mark. Thus, under Tom’s supervision, a task force takes on the case, steadily chasing the tail ends of their mystery robber. Ruffalo brings the character of Tom Brandis to the screen with a sincere authenticity that appeals to the FBI Agent’s softer corners. However, fans might have noticed the Marvel alumnus actor embraces a distinct physicality, notably sporting a beer belly.
Mark Ruffalo Achieved His Chubbier Look Through Prosthetics
‘Task’ strives to tell the classic cop-and-robber tale through a highly nuanced and balanced narrative. As such, the show delves deep into the lives of its protagonists, criminal Robbie Prendergast and FBI agent Tom Brandis. Early in the story, the show discloses the complications of the latter’s personal life, establishing his miserable off-duty hours. Recently, the law enforcement officer’s family has suffered a great tragedy involving the death of his wife and the imprisonment of his son, Ethan. In the aftermath, Tom and his daughter, Emily, have been left alone to drift further apart while the older man steadily falls into the clutches of alcoholism. Actor Mark Ruffalo recognized the physical toll this kind of lifestyle would have realistically taken on the character’s body.
Therefore, even though the role didn’t explicitly call for it, Ruffalo wanted it to be evident that the character had put on some notable weight. Similarly, he also opted to grow out his beard, giving a distinctly “scraggly” look to his character, which enhanced the visual storytelling in his narrative. Reportedly, the actor and the show’s creator, Brad Ingelsby, worked with the costume designers to ensure 30 to 40 pounds could be added to Ruffalo’s body. In the end, enlargement augmentation, a.k.a. a padded prosthetic baby bump, was employed for the job. After shaving a bit of the prosthetic off to create a more realistic look, they were finally able to create a look that complemented Tom’s story.
In addition to the help from the prosthetic, Ruffalo also sought out a more relaxed diet, which consisted of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. This helped him put on some natural weight to go with the fake enhancements to his physicality. As such, Tom’s overall look becomes more believable, adding visual coherence and authenticity to the story. “We wanted to lean into the tragedy aftermath,” Ingelsby shared in a conversation with USA Today. “The anchor of the family is gone. As a parent and in terms of what he’s eating and drinking, Tom is adrift.”
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