‘The Chi’ Opens Season 8 Writers Room Ahead Of Season 7 Premiere

EXCLUSIVE: The Chi is eying another potential early renewal ahead of the launch of its most recent installment. Paramount+ with Showtime has commissioned a Season 8 writers room for the drama created by Lena Waithe, sources tell Deadline. There are no deals yet with the cast who still have time on their options, I hear, but the intention is to go to another season.

If that happens The Chi would tie Dexter, Homeland and Weeds for the second longest run in Showtime’s history, 8 seasons, only behind Shameless, 11 seasons.

Season 7 of The Chi is now the can (It wrapped production in October). Its 2025 premiere date is TBD. Season 6 had a strong showing, logging the series’ most watched premiere and most-watched season on streaming to date.

The Chi, from 20th Television, centers on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

Season 6 ended with the deaths of a major character, villain Otis “Douda” Perry (Curtis Cook), as well as Alecia’s son Rob (Iman Shumpert), with everyone left to pick up the pieces.

In addition to Cook, The Chi”s Season 6 main cast included Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker and Luke James .

Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner and Common executive produce alongside Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment, Rick Famuyiwa, Justin Hillian, Jewel Coronel, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia, along with Rishi Rajani of Hillman Grad. Co-executive producers include Naomi Funabashi, who oversees for Hillman Grad, and Resheida Brady.