Even with the White Sox starting the season at 2-8, there is still great news coming from The South Side. SHOWTIME just announced that The Chi is turning up the heat for season seven, adding Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad, NAACP Image Award winner Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Emmy winner Karrueche Tran to its already powerhouse ensemble. The new season premieres Friday, May 16 on streaming and Sunday, May 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on-air.
The streaming network also released a new teaser video.
Fresh off its record-breaking sixth season—which saw a 25% jump in streaming viewership—Lena Waithe’s critically acclaimed drama shows no signs of slowing down.
✨ The New Faces of Season 7
- Phylicia Rashad joins as Renee, one of the few people who can cut through Pastor Zeke’s facade.
- Wendy Raquel Robinson plays Riley Dalton, a nurturing but no-nonsense figure who’s turned personal tragedy into a source of strength.
- Karrueche Tran appears as Zuri, a woman trying to stay on the right path, but trouble keeps knocking.
With Alicia now leading, Season 7 shines a light on the fierce, complex women of The Chi as they fight for power, purpose—and possibly a crown that comes at a serious cost. Watch the teaser below:
And here’s a look at some images from the upcoming season:
More Star Power, Bigger Stakes
Returning cast includes Jacob Latimore, Lynn Whitfield, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Birgundi Baker, and Luke James, plus guest appearances from Kadeem Hardison, Jill Marie Jones, Vic Mensa, La La Anthony, and more.
The Chi is executive produced by Lena Waithe, Common, and showrunners Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel under the Hillman Grad banner. The series is produced by 20th Television and shot entirely in Chicago.
As The Chi continues to evolve from a coming-of-age story to a multi-generational tapestry of power, identity, and survival, this casting move feels like a major moment—both for the show and its devoted audience.
Early signs indicate that The Chi is preparing for Season 8, even though Season 7 has not aired yet. Although the network has not officially announced a renewal, Deadline reports that Paramount+ with Showtime has opened a writers’ room for the potential eighth season of The Chi.
Now about those Sox…
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