Produced entirely in its namesake city, 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 ensemble cast includes Jason Mitchell, Jacob Latimore, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Armando Riesco and Tiffany Boone.
Kevin (Hibbert) is the pre-teen who must step past shattered illusions and embrace the normal rites of childhood, while Brandon (Mitchell) the dreamer makes his own nearly impossible leap of faith to succeed in life and love with girlfriend Jerrika (Boone). Emmett (Latimore) is the carefree teen is thrust into complex responsibility with guidance from his mother Jada (Ross), and Ronnie (Mwine) is the drifter whose struggle to love and be loved calls into question his every pursuit.
From Showtime’s press release, January 2018… SHOWTIME has renewed its hit drama series THE CHI for a second season, it was announced today by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. Created and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Lena Waithe (Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award(R), Emmy and Golden Globe(R) winner Common (Selma), THE CHI explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago. Ayanna Floyd Davis (Empire, Hannibal) has signed on for season two as executive producer and showrunner. Produced by Fox 21 Television Studios, the series will go back into production in Chicago later this year. “From viewers and critics alike, the response to THE CHI has been so enthusiastic from the very start that our decision to renew the series was an easy one,” Levine said. “We love the vibrant characters and the nuanced world that Lena has created. Her vision for THE CHI has clearly struck a chord, and we know she has many more moving, personal and resonant stories to tell about her beloved hometown.” THE CHI ranks as the best SHOWTIME series premiere since BILLIONS in 2016, averaging four million weekly viewers across platforms. Since its January 7 debut, the series has consistently grown its audience week after week – with its most recent episode outperforming the premiere by 41 percent. THE CHI has also been embraced and amplified on social media consistently among the top trending topics on Sunday nights on Twitter.
https://youtu.be/oPqbhroAPWI
production details
USA / Showtime / x55 minutes / 2018
Aaron Kaplan as Executive Producer
Adam Glass as Co-Executive Producer
Clark Johnson as Executive Producer
Common as Executive Producer
Elwood Reid as Executive Producer
Lena Waithe as Creator and Executive Producer
cast
Alex Hibbert as Kevin
Jason Mitchell as Brandon
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Ronnie Davis
Jacob Latimore as Emmett
Yolanda Ross as Jada
Tiffany Boone as Jerrika
Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz
Birgundi Baker as Kiesha
