Emmy® winner Lena Waithe’s acclaimed SHOWTIME® original drama series The Chi, streaming on Paramount+ (Paramount+ Premium plan), is coming to an end. Season 8 will be the final season, and the Chicago-set drama is set to go out with flair. After the shocking events of the Season 7 finale, which characters – and stars – are coming back for the upcoming new season? Read on to meet the cast of The Chi Season 8, from the fan favorites to the new faces, from the main cast to the supporting players.
Spoiler alert: Plot points from Season 7 will be discussed. So, read on with caution, or binge-watch Season 7 now – all episodes streaming for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ Premium plan.
Who’s in the main cast?
Here’s a look at the announced series regulars for The Chi Season 8:
- Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington
- Birgundi Baker as Kiesha Williams
- Luke James as Victor Taylor
- Shamon Brown Jr. as Stanley “Papa” Jackson
- Michael V. Epps as Jake Taylor
- Hannahe Hall as Tiffany
- Jason Weaver as Rashaad “Shaad” Marshall
Meet the stars
Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington
Jacob Latimore plays Emmett Washington, a main character of The Chi since the beginning. Emmett has grown from a teen sneakerhead to a family man and businessman. He is engaged to Kiesha (Birgundi Baker), and the father of a new baby girl, named after his recently deceased mother Jada. Season 8 will see the young man juggle family, grief, and business in a whole new chapter of his life.
Where you’ve seen him: Black Nativity, The Maze Runner, Collateral Beauty, Detroit
Birgundi Baker as Kiesha Williams
Birgundi Baker fills the role of Kiesha Williams. Kiesha is another character fans have known since Season 1. She is a young woman who has been through it: a harrowing abduction, unexpected pregnancy, and more. Kiesha is starting a new phase of life in Season 8 with fiancé Emmett (Jacob Latimore) and new daughter, Jada.
Where you’ve seen her: Black Lightning, Empire, 30 Miles from Nowhere, Station 19
Luke James as Victor “Trig” Taylor
Luke James plays former drug dealer turned community leader Victor Taylor, known as “Trig” from his street days. Victor does a lot to help his community, including starting a career in politics. Victor and his best friend, Shaad (Jason Weaver), are caught in the wrong place at the wrong time at the end of Season 7 – with the bullet-riddled body of the slain Alicia (Lynn Whitfield). Season 8 will see Victor dealing with the blowback of that shocking scene.
Where you’ve seen him: The New Edition Story, Star, Insecure, Them, Genius
Shamon Brown Jr. as Stanley “Papa” Jackson
Shamon Brown Jr. plays Stanley Jackson, aka Papa. A fixture on The Chi since Season 1, Papa is the voice of reason in his friend group – and on his podcast, Papa’s Pulpit. Papa takes on the role of Pastor Zeke’s assistant after he tragically loses his father, and eventually gives his father’s church to Zeke (Daniel J. Watts) in Season 7.
Where you’ve seen him: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Michael V. Epps as Jake Taylor
Actor Michael V. Epps grew up with his character Jake Taylor on The Chi, a role he’s played since Season 1. Jake Taylor is a young man with two older brothers, Victor (Luke James) and Reg (Barton Fitzpatrick), and a drug-addicted mother, Peaches (Sherrice Eaglin), who has been exposed to the harsh realities of street life. Jake started a clothing business called Chi Seeds as an attempt to get away from the streets, but the return of his brother Reg pulls Jake back into the criminal lifestyle.
Where you’ve seen him: Chicago Fire, Primary Position
Hannaha Hall as Tiffany
While Hannah Hall has played Tiffany since the show’s start, Season 8 will be her first as a member of the main cast.
Over the years, Tiff’s gone through it. In Season 7, she takes on responsibilities for Alicia’s growing empire, and welcomes a son with the help of Victor (Luke James). In Season 8, Tiffany is poised to take care of her family, and see her role evolve in the late Alicia’s business.
Where you’ve seen her: A Bloody Night, Chicago Med
Jason Weaver as Rashaad “Shaad” Marshall
Jason Weaver has also been promoted to series regular for Season 8. His character, known as Shaad, was Alicia’s bodyguard – a job that upends his life when, at the end of Season 7, he’s found at her murder scene with Victor (Luke James). Will he be framed, or exonerated?
Where you’ve seen him: The Jacksons: An American Dream, The Lion King, Smart Guy, Thea
Check back to see who else will join the cast as they are announced.
Where can I watch Season 8?
Upon its premiere, you can watch The Chi Season 8 on Paramount+ with a subscription to the Paramount+ Premium plan. Now before you ask, no, a premiere date hasn’t been announced yet. But did you know you catch up now on The Chi Seasons 1-7? All episodes are streaming for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ Premium plan.
What is The Chi Season 8 about?
The Chi is a beloved drama that follows an ensemble cast of characters in the South Side of Chicago. The official logline for Season 8 teases a chilly finale ahead: “As The Chi enters its eighth and final season and its coldest winter ever, life or death choices must be made. The question becomes, who is willing to make them? Legacy, conflict, joy, and pain.”
In a post on Instagram, Lena Waithe promised to deliver “a final season that our Chi family deserves.”
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