{"id":23638,"date":"2025-05-19T16:10:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=23638"},"modified":"2025-05-19T16:10:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T14:10:32","slug":"first-look-at-thuso-mbedu-in-hbos-task-coming-to-showmax-later-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2025\/05\/19\/first-look-at-thuso-mbedu-in-hbos-task-coming-to-showmax-later-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"First look at Thuso Mbedu in HBO\u2019s &#8220;Task&#8221;, Coming to Showmax Later this Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>HBO has released a first-look image of South African star Thuso Mbedu in <em>Task<\/em>, a new drama series from Brad Ingelsby, creator of the four-time Emmy winner <em>Mare of Easttown<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/showmax.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"159\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/showmax.png?resize=450%2C159&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20947\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/showmax.png?w=450&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/showmax.png?resize=300%2C106&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Mbedu plays Aleah, part of a task force trying to put an end to a string of violent robberies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four-time Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo plays the FBI agent heading up the Task Force. The stacked cast includes Emmy nominee Tom Pelphrey (<em>Ozark<\/em>), BAFTA nominee Emilia Jones (<em>CODA<\/em>), Jamie McShane (<em>Wednesday<\/em>, <em>1923<\/em>), Alison Oliver (<em>Saltburn<\/em>) and Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole in <em>House of the Dragon<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Task<\/em> will debut in September on HBO and will premiere first on Showmax in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After earning two International Emmy nominations as Winnie in Mzansi Magic\u2019s<em> Is\u2019thunzi<\/em>, Mbedu\u2019s career went international. She cracked a Critics Choice Best Actress nomination as Cora in the Emmy-nominated <em>The Underground Railroad, <\/em>won the Black Reel Breakthrough Actress Award as Nawi in the #1 box office hit <em>The Woman King<\/em>, and has had voice roles in <em>Mufasa: The Lion King<\/em> and <em>Castlevania: Nocturne<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Task | Official Teaser | HBO Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Uad08ZuHOlc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tracking.us.nylas.com\/l\/82af63e8baa848edb0d36bd1dbae777a\/0\/813db07bd52ac5e1f9c3e7ff568d0b63ede517dc4d05ef6085c447d21fe5e7aa?cache_buster=1747659841\"><\/a><em>Task <\/em>is one of a run of high-profile international titles coming first to Showmax soon. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mountainhead | Official Trailer | Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/27cN2_k0JF0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mountainhead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>| First on Showmax | Stream from Sunday, 1 June<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four friends. $371 billion net worth. One international crisis. Zero responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among <em>The Wrap<\/em>\u2019s Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2025, <em>Mountainhead<\/em> is the feature film directorial debut of seven-time Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Jesse Armstrong, creator of <em>Succession<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The all-star cast of billionaire friends includes Emmy nominees Steve Carell and Ramy Youssef, Critics Choice nominee Cory Michael Smith and multi-award winner Jason Schwartzma<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hacks Season 4 | Official Trailer | Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hOwKjb_EHJA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hacks S4<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>| First on Showmax | Binge from Friday, 2 June<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reigning Best Comedy Series at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, <em>Hacks<\/em> is back for a fourth season, with Deborah and Ava working to get their late night show off the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As legendary comedian Deborah Vance, Jean Smart has won the Best Actress Emmy every season, while Hannah Einbinder won Best Supporting Actress at this year\u2019s Critics Choice Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 4 has a 97% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. As <em>The Guardian<\/em> says, \u201cSeason 4 of <em>Hacks<\/em> is very funny. But what makes it really special is just how raw it is, too, ready to hit you in the feels when you least expect it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Rehearsal Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6CaHP5P4wUc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Rehearsal S2<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>| First on Showmax | June 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Rehearsal<\/em> follows one man\u2019s journey to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life &#8211; with a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emmy nominee Nathan Fielder (<em>The Curse<\/em>) helps ordinary people prepare for life\u2019s biggest moments by \u201crehearsing\u201d them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. In Season 2, the urgency of Fielder\u2019s project grows as he decides to put his resources toward an issue that affects us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 has a 97% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes, <\/em>with<em> The Guardian <\/em>hailing it as \u201cTV\u2019s most fascinating show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ih01iblDuHg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Duster S1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> First on Showmax | July 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set in the 1970s, <em>Duster <\/em>follows a gutsy getaway driver whose life goes from dangerous to wildly, stupidly dangerous when the FBI&#8217;s first Black woman agent comes to town, hellbent on taking down his crime family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From JJ Abrams (<em>Lost<\/em>, <em>Westworld<\/em>, <em>Star Wars: The Force Awakens<\/em>) and series creator and showrunner LaToya Morgan, <em>Duster<\/em> stars Josh Holloway (<em>Yellowstone<\/em>, <em>Lost)<\/em> and Rachel Hilson (<em>This Is Us<\/em>), as well as three-time Emmy winner Keith David (<em>American Fiction<\/em>), Greg Grunberg (<em>Heroes<\/em>) and Emmy nominee Corbin Bernsen (<em>LA Law<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Duster<\/em> has a 90% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>Mashable<\/em> hailing the eight-part series as \u201cnothing less than an absolute joyride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Peacemaker Season 2 | Official Teaser | Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-QwXokuIZjM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Peacemaker S2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>| First on Showmax | August 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John Cena is back as Christopher \u201cChris\u201d Smith, aka Peacemaker. This season, DC\u2019s vigilante superhero struggles to reconcile his past with his newfound sense of purpose, while continuing to kick righteous evil-doer butt in his misguided quest for peace at any cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 1 was nominated for Critics Choice Super Awards for Best Superhero Series, Actor (Cena) and Actress (Danielle Brooks), as well as for an Emmy for its stunts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multi-award winner James Gunn (<em>The Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em>) wrote all eight episodes this season, directing three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New cast members include Frank Grillo (<em>Tulsa King<\/em>), David Denman (<em>The Office<\/em>), and Emmy nominee Tim Meadows (<em>Mean Girls<\/em>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HBO has released a first-look image of South African star Thuso Mbedu in Task, a new drama series from Brad Ingelsby, creator of the four-time Emmy winner Mare of Easttown. Mbedu plays Aleah, part of a task force trying to put an end to a string of violent robberies. Four-time Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo plays&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2025\/05\/19\/first-look-at-thuso-mbedu-in-hbos-task-coming-to-showmax-later-this-year\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">First look at Thuso Mbedu in HBO\u2019s &#8220;Task&#8221;, Coming to Showmax Later this Year<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,240],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-23638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online","category-series","tag-showmax","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TastPhoto-showmax.jpg?fit=550%2C367&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}