The Chi To End With Season 8 — Read Creator Lena Waithe's Full Statement
Paramount+ With Showtime is putting the South Side of Chicago in its rearview mirror — the upcoming eighth season of The Chi (premiere date TBD) will be its last, TVLine has confirmed. Production on the now-final season begins in early 2026.
Created by Lena Waithe, The Chi is a coming-of-age story about a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become "linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption."
"When I created The Chi, it wasn't just about making a TV show — it was about owning our narratives and telling our stories with truth, care, nuance and complexity," Waithe says in a statement. "It was about showing the soul of the South Side — the beauty, the pain, the grit, and the magic that lives in every block, and in every family. After much reflection, we have made the decision to end The Chi with season 8. I know, for the sake of our story and our characters, it's the right thing. I am committed to delivering a final season that our Chi Family deserves."
Waithe continues: "It's been the honor of my life to build a platform for artists to shine—not just in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well. To helm the longest-running Black drama on television is a huge honor and it's something I don't take lightly. I'm deeply grateful to every single person who helped build this world — our writers, actors and crew who give so much of themselves to make this show what it is. As for what the future holds, I still plan on telling stories, continuing to build community, and making space for us all to be seen."
The show's ensemble cast includes Jacob Latimore as Emmett, Lynn Whitfield as Alicia, Shamon Brown Jr. as Papa, Michael V. Epps as Jake, Birgundi Baker as Kiesha and Luke James as Trig.
Yolonda Ross also spent all seven seasons portraying Jada, but her fan favorite character met an untimely end in the finale. "It sucked," Ross told TVLine of her character's exit. "I mean, it was weird. It's kind of a mixed bag of things. It's like, first off, why didn't I know earlier? But then also, oh wow, now I can do other things."
Variety was the first to report the end of The Chi. Are you ready to say goodbye after eight seasons? Drop a comment with your thoughts below.