The Chi is back—and it’s adding more faces to the new season.
Ahead of its anticipated Season 7 premiere, Showtime has added Kyla Pratt, Reagan Gomez, Punkie Johnson, and Tammy Townsend to the already stacked ensemble. The four will appear in guest-starring roles and join previously announced newcomers Phylicia Rashad, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Karrueche Tran in the newest chapter of Lena Waithe’s South Side epic.
Season 6 ended in chaos, with the shocking deaths of Douda (Curtis Cook) and Rob (Iman Shumpert), both at the hands of Douda’s own enforcer, Nuck. Rob’s death shook the community and left his mother Alicia (played by Lynn Whitfield) at a crossroads—one she’s about to turn into a throne.
Season 7 puts Alicia at the center of a major power shift. According to Showtime, “With Alicia at the helm, the pivotal women of The Chi rise to reclaim their power. Yet, as loyalties are tested and new rivalries are stoked, it becomes clear that there’s only one crown—and it will come at a heavy cost.”
The trailer teases moments of joy, rebellion, and community—like Alicia dancing alongside Jada (Yolonda Ross) and Tracy (Tai Davis), a rare instance of levity before The Chi’s next storm rolls in.
Who’s Back
The core cast continues to hold it down, with Jacob Latimore, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, and Luke James all returning. Lynn Whitfield, who joined in Season 6, has officially been promoted to series regular, signaling an even bigger role for Alicia this season.
As for the newcomers, Kyla Pratt takes on the role of Angie, Hannibal’s ride-or-die wife who runs a tight ship and won’t stand for anything that disturbs her peace. Punkie Johnson is Shawnita, a no-nonsense restaurant manager brought in to whip Smokey’s into shape. Reagan Gomez plays Candace, a former lover girl turned unpredictable firecracker whose new romance is keeping her on edge. Tammy Townsend portrays Nora, a scrappy, big-hearted entrepreneur trying to better her community one hustle at a time.
Also returning in guest roles are:
Kadeem Hardison, Chris Lee, Brett Gray, Rotimi, Jackie Long, Charmin Lee, Jill Marie Jones, Daniel J. Watts, Hannaha Hall, Jason Weaver, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Kandi Burruss, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce, Ahmad Ferguson, Cortez Smith, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Zaria Imani Primer, L’lerrét Jazelle, and Brian Keys.
Behind the Camera
Created by Emmy winner Lena Waithe, The Chi is executive produced under her Hillman Grad banner alongside co-showrunners Justin Hillian and Jewel Coronel, as well as Common, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, Resheida Brady-Anderson, Naomi Funabashi, and Rishi Rajani. Supervising producers Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield directed several episodes this season.
A Legacy in the Making
Season 6 delivered The Chi’s most-watched season on streaming, with viewership jumping nearly 25% from the previous season. With Showtime already greenlighting a Season 8 writers’ room, the series is creeping up on legacy status. If renewed, The Chi would tie with Dexter, Weeds, and Homeland as the network’s second-longest running series—just behind Shameless.
Season 7 of The Chi premieres May 16 on-demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, and May 18 at 9 PM ET/PT on Showtime.
Looks like South Side summer is about to get real.