Showtime Confirms The Chi to End with Eighth and Final Season

After achieving the milestone of being the longest-running Black drama series in premium cable history, The Chi will conclude with its upcoming eighth season on Paramount+ and Showtime.

Per Deadline, which was the first to report the news, notes, “The decision comes ahead of the start of production on Season 8, set for early next year, allowing the creative team to develop a proper ending.”

Aside from being the longest-running Black premium cable drama, it is tied with Dexter, Homeland, and Weeds as the second-longest-running series in Showtime's history. All four series rank behind Shameless.

Lena Waithe shared these thoughts, “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. 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.”

Adding that, “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. 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 series was created by Waithe, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Common. The studio behind the production is 20th Television.