Showtime maintains its presence in the Windy City.
The premium channel, now known as Paramount+ With Showtime, has ordered a seventh season of its drama series Chi. The renewal of the series, created by Lena Waithe, comes two days before it returns to Paramount+ With Showtime for the second half of season six.
Production on the seventh season is expected to begin later this month in Chicago.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching tales in Chi resonate deeply, providing a powerful perspective on the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “Following a record-breaking season and ahead of this week’s return, we’re excited to offer fans the promise of more – ensuring they can continue to enjoy the raw, emotional stories and unforgettable characters which made this flagship season a resounding success for Showtime.
Chi is P+ With Showtime’s longest-running current scripted series, taking that title after Billions ended its seven-season run last year. The coming-of-age story set on the city’s south side comes from 20th Television and Waithe’s Hillman Grad banner.
Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook star in Chi. Waithe executive produces season six with Common, co-showrunners Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Media, and Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani. Hillman Grad’s Naomi Funabashi and Resheida Brady are co-EPs (Brady was promoted to EP for the seventh season). Producers Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield directed several episodes of season six.
