‘The Chi’ Renewed For Season 2; ‘Empire’ Co-EP Named As New Showrunner

Showtime has renewed “The Chi” for another season.

According to Deadline, Season 2 of the Lena Waithe-created series will be helmed by new showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis, who co-wrote Season 1, episode 3, titled “Ghosts.” Davis previously worked as a writer and co-executive producer on Fox’s “Empire,” USA Network’s “Falling Skies,” NBC’s “Hannibal,” and VH1’s “Hit the Floor.” She also served as a supervising producer on ABC’s “Private Practice.”

Shortly after she was announced as the showrunner for Season 2 of “The Chi,” Davis tweeted that she’s “HONORED and tickled pink to be officially reppin’” the series. Waithe replied to Davis’ tweet, writing that she’s honored to have her on the show. “You are a Godsend,” Waithe wrote of Davis. “Thank you for having my back from jump. Let’s go get’em!”

In an Instagram post, Waithe calls Davis her “play auntie” and thanks the show’s fans for making the renewal possible.

“The Chi’s” early Season 2 renewal is no surprise, as the show has been averaging 4 million weekly viewers across platforms since its premiere last Jan. 7. As reported by Deadline, “The Chi’s” debut episode was the strongest series premiere for Showtime since “Billions” in 2016. Also worth noting is that the show’s latest episode represents 41 percent growth from the premiere.

“From viewers and critics alike, the response to ‘The Chi’ has been so enthusiastic from the very start that our decision to renew the series was an easy one,” Gary Levine, president of programming at Showtime Networks, said in a statement. “We love the vibrant characters and the nuanced world that Lena has created. Her vision for ‘The Chi’ has clearly struck a chord, and we know she has many more moving, personal and resonant stories to tell about her beloved hometown.”

Produced entirely in its namesake city, “The Chi” explores Chicago’s South Side and tells the story of a group of residents connected by the tragic deaths of two teenagers. The series stars Jason Mitchell as Brandon, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Ronnie, Jacob Latimore as Emmett, Alex Hibbert as Kevin, Yolonda Ross as Jada, Tiffany Boone as Jerrika, and Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz.

“The Chi” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on Showtime. Check out some of the cast members’ reactions to the show’s Season 2 renewal below: