Showtime’s The Chi to End with Season 8

Showtime’s The Chi to End with Season 8

Creator Lena Waithe confirmed that The Chi will end with its upcoming eighth season.

 

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After reflecting on the arc of the characters and the storytelling, Waithe said, “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.”

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she also shared that the show was built to “own our narratives and tell our stories with truth, care, nuance and complexity.” She added that The Chi was always 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.”

Reflecting on her journey with the series, Waithe said, “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.” She continued, “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.”

With The Chi premiering in 2018 on Showtime and now streaming under the Paramount+ with Showtime umbrella, it has grown into a record-breaking hit. The Season 7 premiere drew over two million viewers across platforms — setting a new benchmark for the series. The show also became the longest-running Black scripted drama on premium television, having passed Empire in 2024.

Production for season 8 is expected to begin in 2026.  Once it airs, The Chi will be tied with Dexter, Weeds, and Homeland as one of Showtime’s longest-running series — sitting just behind Shameless.