Production on the Paramount+ With Showtime series’ final run began in January. Season 8 will feature the Chicago-set show’s “coldest winter ever,” the synopsis previews, in which “life-or-death choices must be made. The question becomes, who is willing to make them? Legacy, conflict, joy, and pain. It all collides in the biggest, most emotionally riveting way ever.”
The show’s returning series regulars include: Birgundi Baker, Jacob Latimore, Shamon Brown Jr., Luke James, Michael V. Epps, Jason Weaver, and Hannaha Hall. Returning guest stars include: Rolando Boyce, Ahmad Ferguson, Zaria Primer, Cortez Smith, Rotimi, Barton Fitzpatrick, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Kyla Pratt, Reagan Gomez, Amari Noelle Ferguson, Tammy Townsend, Punkie Johnson, Karrueche Tran, L’lerret Jazelle, Jackie Long, Monroe Alise, Kennedy Amaya, and Aina Brei’Yon.
News that “The Chi” would end with Season 8 broke in October.
“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,” series creator Lena Waithe said in a statement at the time. “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.”