EXCLUSIVE: Showtime’s hit drama the chi, which will be shot entirely in Chicago, has suspended production for its upcoming sixth season effective today. The decision was made Monday after a second straight day of shooting was disrupted by WGA strike-related pickets.
Eight episodes of the sixth season have been completed. I hear the chi, each season consisted of 10 episodes, Filming should take a few more weeks after the finished scripts. It is unclear when production will resume.
Showtime has not yet set a premiere date for Season 6. It is possible that the season will be split into two parts, so fans will get new episodes sooner. Representatives for Showtime and The Chi Producer 20th Television declined to comment.
After being brought to the attention of the authors on social media on Sunday evening The Chi The production had asked those working on the show to be at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios before 4 a.m. Monday to avoid picketing. They called to action and set up a picket line in the studio in the early hours of the morning.
As a result, The Chi I heard I wasn’t able to film today as the WGA Mission Captains thanked the Team Stars and the IATSE
476 on Twitter for not crossing.
This was followed by a canceled film location on Friday afternoon, when a similar rapid-response call on social media sent pickets to the address ahead of filming.
Ultimately, it was decided on Monday night to halt production for the immediate future.
the chi, Created and executive produced by Lena Waithe and executive producer of Common, is a coming-of-age drama set in south Chicago.
In addition to Waithe and Common, the series is produced by showrunner Justin Hillian, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia, Rishi Rajani, CEO of Hillman Grad Productions, and Jewel Coronel.