According to Waithe, the decision to stop was well-considered and meant to give the story a worthy conclusion: “It was never just a television series — it was about owning our stories and showcasing the soul of the South Side, with all its beauty, pain, and strength.”
Production of the final season will start early next year. With this, The Chi joins other iconic Showtime series such as Dexter, Homeland, and Weeds, which also spanned eight seasons.
Since its premiere in 2018, The Chi has told a coming-of-age story about residents of Chicago's South Side who become interconnected through chance events and strive together for connection and redemption. The series was praised for its realistic portrayal of the community and its socio-cultural themes.
The cast of season seven included Jacob Latimore, Lynn Whitfield, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael Epps, Birgundi Baker, and Luke James, with many recurring and guest roles from the likes of Kadeem Hardison, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, and Kandi Burruss.
Season seven, which concluded on August 1, achieved the highest number of streams in the series' history.
Although The Chi is ending, sources indicate that discussions are ongoing between Waithe and Paramount about future collaborations. Waithe emphasizes that she will continue telling stories that make the Black community visible: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to build a platform where others can shine.”
