Showtime has officially renewed Emmy winner Lena Waithe’s hit drama series The Chi for a fourth season with Justin Hillian set to return as an executive producer and showrunner. The renewal comes after over two weeks since the third season had debuted its finale with episode 3.10 titled “A Couple, Two, Three.”
“This show has definitely taken me on a journey,” series creator and executive producer Waithe said in a statement (via The Futon Critic). “One of learning, healing, and growth. I didn’t know how this season would be received, but the level of engagement and enthusiasm from the fans has been fantastic. I still can’t believe our numbers are up by double digits! THE CHI is a team effort, and I’m grateful to continue this journey with such an amazing group of people.”
“Each season, THE CHI’s authentic storytelling resonates more deeply with its devoted and growing audiences,” Showtime Networks Inc.’s President of Entertainment, Gary Levine said. “Lena Waithe together with Justin Hillian explore the joys and the heartbreak of life on the South Side in a way that is unique on television, and we relish the prospect of continuing that exploration with them.”
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The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The cast includes Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), Jacob Latimore (Sleight), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight), Yolonda Ross (Treme) and Armando Riesco (Bull).
Produced entirely in its namesake city, season two of The Chi spotlights Brandon’s (Mitchell) ambitious plan for his food truck business. Emmett (Latimore) makes an effort to grow up and get custody of his son, while his mother Jada (Ross) discovers a new life of her own. Kevin (Hibbert) reckons with trauma as he strengthens bonds with his buddies. Ronnie (Mwine) attempts to reclaim his life, while Detective Cruz (Riesco) launches a new investigation.
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In addition to Waithe and Common, Ayanna Floyd Davis (Empire, Hannibal), Aaron Kaplan (Santa Clarita Diet, Divorce), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of Freedom Road Productions served as executive producers on season two. The Chi is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios.
