Showtime has announced that The Chi Season 5 will premiere on Friday, June 24th. The first new episode will be available on streaming and on-demand for all Showtime subscribers before making its on-air debut on Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Each new episode of the fifth season will be available on Fridays on streaming and on demand.
Season four ended as one of the network’s most-streamed series ever, averaging 4.2 million weekly viewers. The Chi, from 20th Television (Homeland), is currently in production on ten episodes in Chicago.
“We’re so honored to be in our fifth season and grateful to the fans that show up for us and make sure people know about The Chi,” said series creator and executive producer Lena Waithe.
“We appreciate the fans so much and hope everyone enjoys this upcoming season. Lots of love.”
Produced entirely in its namesake city, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.
The Chi Season 5 cast includes Jacob Latimore (Like a Boss), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight), Yolonda Ross (Treme), Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook (West Side Story).
Kandi Burruss, La La Anthony, Jason Weaver, and Iman Shumpert are set to return as guest stars.
The previously-announced new guest stars are Nia Jervier (Dear White People, Twenties) as Tierra, the poised, polished, and driven god-niece of Douda (Cook), whom he recruits for a rebranding effort, and Carolyn Michelle Smith (Russian Doll, House of Cards) as Deja, a new love interest for Shaad (Weaver) who helps him level up in more ways than one.
In addition, L’lerrét Jazelle plays Fatima, a local journalist who wants the best for her neighborhood and isn’t afraid to hold politicians’ feet to the fire to get the truth.
Antonyah Allen is Simone, Kevin’s (Hibbert) new classmate, a creative introvert who constantly challenges him and opens his mind to new experiences.
Along with Emmy winner Waithe (Twenties, Boomerang), the series is executive produced by Academy Award and Emmy winner Common (Selma), Aaron Kaplan (A Million Little Things, The Neighborhood), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia, Rishi Rajani, CEO of Hillman Grad Productions, and showrunner Justin Hillian.
Jewel Coronel has been upped from co-executive producer to executive producer for season five.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.