This article contains spoilers if you have not seen ‘The Chi’ season 6 finale
If you’re caught up with ‘The Chi’, the season six finale delivered a notable surprise with the appearance of Rotimi (‘Power’). You’ll be glad to know that this wasn’t a one-off appearance—Rotimi joins the cast of ‘The Chi’ for its upcoming seventh season.
Though details about his role remain under wraps, Rotimi will portray a character named Charles a church goer connected to Pastor Ezekiel (portrayed by Daniel J. Watts). In an exclusive statement to Blex, he expressed his excitement: “I give God the glory to get the chance to work with an all-star cast and to bring to life the vision of the brilliant Lena Waithe! It’s time to work.”
As the show welcomes this new addition, it also bids farewell to three long-standing cast members. By the end of the finale, two characters—Curtiss Cook’s Otis “Douda” Perry and Iman Shumpert’s Rob—met tragic ends, while Tyla Abercrumbie’s Nina left town with her girlfriend LaPorsha after saying goodbye to friends and family.
The on-screen murders were interconnected. Following a season-long power struggle between Douda and Alicia (played by Lynn Whitfield), Douda was ultimately taken out by his former henchman, Nuck (Cortez Smith). Nuck then declared himself the new boss, but when Rob resisted, Nuck shot him and left his body on his mother’s doorstep for Alicia to discover.
Abercrumbie has been with ‘The Chi’ since Season 1, Cook since Season 2, and Shumpert joined in Season 4.
In May, Paramount+ with Showtime renewed ‘The Chi’ for a seventh season. Created by Lena Waithe and produced by 20th Television and Waithe’s Hillman Grad banner, ‘The Chi’ is now the longest-running current scripted series on Paramount+ With Showtime, following the conclusion of ‘Billions’ last year.
The series follows a group of residents on Chicago’s South Side, exploring themes of connection and redemption. The cast includes Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, and others.
Lena Waithe serves as an executive producer alongside Common, Justin Hillian, Jewel Coronel, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, and Rishi Rajani. Co-executive producers include Naomi Funabashi, who oversees for Hillman Grad, and Resheida Brady. Producers Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield directed multiple episodes in season six.
Lynn Whitfield, Jill Marie Jones, Kadeem Hardison, Leon, Brett Gray, and Daniel J. Watts, along with Kandi Burruss, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Jason Weaver, Nia Jervier, L’lerrét Jazelle, Hannaha Hall, Ahmad Ferguson, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Miriam A. Hyman, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce, and Tory O. Davis round out the cast.