Showtime set a premiere date of January 7 for The Chi, a coming-of-age-drama about working class African-Americans. Created and executive produced by Master of None’s Lena Waithe, the series explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago—where it is also produced.
The story focuses on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The cast includes Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), Jacob Latimore (Sleight), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight), Yolonda Ross (Treme, The Get Down), Armando Riesco (Bull) and Tiffany Boone (The Following).
Here’s how Showtime describes the series:
Kevin (Hibbert) is the pre-teen who must step past shattered illusions and embrace the normal rites of childhood, while Brandon (Mitchell) the dreamer makes his own nearly impossible leap of faith to succeed in life and love with girlfriend Jerrika (Boone). Emmett (Latimore) is the carefree teen is thrust into complex responsibility with guidance from his mother Jada (Ross), and Ronnie (Mwine) is the drifter whose struggle to love and be loved calls into question his every pursuit. Sonja Sohn (The Wire), Jahking Guillory (Kicks), and Steven Williams (The Leftovers) recur.
Common (John Wick 2, Selma) executive produces along with Waithe and Elwood Reid (The Bridge, Hawaii Five-O), who also serves as showrunner.
Aaron Kaplan (Santa Clarita Diet, Divorce) also executive produces along with Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of Freedom Road Productions, and Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), who directed the premiere episode. The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios.
The Chi premieres January 7 at 10 p.m.
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