‘The Chi’ Renewed For Season 8 By Showtime Following Strong Season 7 Debut

EXCLUSIVE: The Chi has been renewed for an eighth season by Paramount+ with Showtime. The news comes on the heels of the Season 7 premiere drawing 2 million cross-platform viewers in the first seven days to become the series’ most-streamed opener, up 2% from last season.

With the Season 8 pickup, The Chi has tied Dexter, Homeland and Weeds for the second-longest run in Showtime’s history, only behind Shameless‘ 11 seasons.

The Chi, created by Lena Waithe, has been on a renewal track since the start of the year. As Deadline reported exclusively, Showtime by early February had commissioned a Season 8 writers room. At the time, there were no deals with the cast; their options subsequently were picked up.

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

This season, with Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) at the helm, the women of The Chi rise to reclaim their power. Yet, as loyalties are tested and new rivalries are stoked, it becomes clear that there’s only one crown — and it will come at a heavy cost.

The Season 7 cast of The Chi, which films in Chicago, also includes Jacob Latimore, Yolonda Ross, Michael V. Epps, Shamon Brown Jr., Birgundi Baker and Luke James. New episodes stream every Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime.

“Following record-breaking viewership, we’re thrilled to announce The Chi has been renewed for Season 8, joining the ranks of Showtime’s most iconic series like Homeland and Dexter,” said Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “Thanks to Lena Waithe and her incredible team, our talented cast and crew, and devoted fans — the South Side story continues!”

Waithe executive produces under her Hillman Grad banner alongside co-showrunners Justin Hillian of Hillianaire Productions and Jewel Coronel via Uncut Gems as well as Common, Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment, Rick Famuyiwa, Resheida Brady-Anderson, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia as well as Naomi Funabashi, who oversees for Hillman Grad and Rishi Rajani, CEO of Hillman Grad. Supervising producers Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield directed multiple episodes in Season 7.