The Chi Renewed for Season 8 by Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

After its record-setting Season 7 premiere, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME has renewed The Chi for Season 8.

Created and executive produced by Emmy-winner Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner, this season of the drama series kicked off with The Chi Season 7 Episode 1, “Black Friday,” on May 16, 2025. It puts Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) at the helm as The Chi‘s women 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,” per the season’s logline. 

The Chi‘s Season 7 premiere pulled in two million cross-platform viewers, making it the most-streamed premiere in the show’s history. 

“With the seventh season of The Chi, Lena Waithe raised the bar creatively, and it shattered viewership records, becoming the most-watched season premiere in the show’s history,” Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, said.

“Lena’s storytelling defies convention and cuts through cliché, revealing the depth, power, and complexity of life on the South Side of Chicago with fearless honesty,” McCarthy continued.

The Chi, “a timely coming-of-age story centering 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,” debuted in 2018. The show is created entirely in Chicago.

It stars Jacob Latimore, Lynn Whitfield, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, and Luke James.

Kadeem Hardison, Chris Lee, Brett Gray, Rotimi, Jackie Long, Charmin Lee, Jill Marie Jones, and Daniel J. Watts return to The Chi Season 7 as guest stars. 

Hannaha Hall, Jason Weaver, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Kandi Burruss, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce, Ahmad Ferguson, Cortez Smith, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Zaria Imani Primer, L’lerrét Jazelle, and Brian Keys also guest star on The Chi.

Co-showrunners Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel executive produce the series alongside Emmy-winner Common.

The Chi is also executive produced by Aaron Kaplan, 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 The Chi Season 7.

20th Television produces the show.

Stream the new season of The Chi now on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan. Get started!

The Chi streams every Friday, exclusively for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.

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