According to Deadline, The Chi will be coming to an end on Paramount+ and Showtime. The Chi is set in Chicago and is created by Lena Waithe (Freyr, The Stand). This decision was made at the beginning of filming season eight to allow creatives time for a proper ending.

Waithe told Deadline in a statement, “When I created The Chi, it wasn’t just about making a TV show—it was about owning our narratives and telling our stories with truth, care, nuance and complexity. It was about showing the soul of the South Side- the beauty, the pain, the grit and the magic that lives in every block, and in every family. After much reflection, we have made the decision to end The Chi with season eight. I know, for the sake of our story and our characters, it’s the right thing. I am committed to delivering a final season that our The Chi family deserves.

After eight seasons on Showtime, The Chi, Dexter, Weeds, and Homeland are tied with one another for the second-longest-running series on Showtime. Shameless is number one with eleven seasons. “It’s been the honor of my life to build a platform for artists to shine—not just in front of the camera, but behind the scenes as well. To helm the longest-running Black drama on television is a huge honor and it’s something I don’t take lightly.” Waithe told Deadline. Waithe continues in her statement, “I’m deeply grateful to every single person who helped build this world—Our writers, actors, and crew who gave so much of themselves to make this show what it is”.

This decision marks the second major move made by the new Paramount+ regime led by CEO David Ellison. Recently, Paramount commissioned writers for Dexter: Resurrection while canceling the successful prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, after just one season. Deadline also mentioned that sources have said that there have been talks about Waithe extending her relationship with Paramount+ for other future projects.