Exclusive: Essence Fest 2023: The Chi’s Curtiss Cook, Luke James, Birgundi Baker and Jacob Latimore talk Season 6
Coming out this week on Showtime is Season 6 of its hit series The Chi. which will premiere Friday, August 4 streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and on demand, before making its on-air debut Sunday, August 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
On the heels of a series high in streaming audience for season five, last year, thenetwork extended a one-time expansion to 16 episodes, which will be split into two eight-episode installments with the second half of the season premiering at a later date.
This season, life in THE CHI reverberates between the highest highs and lowest lows. Big dreams are finally realized but at a cost and everyone will be tested in unimaginable ways as they calculate the risks and rewards of their next big move. Emmett (Jacob Latimore) and Kiesha’s (Birgundi Baker) blissful blended union is tested by his insatiable drive to expand Smokey’s and a new perilous partnership, while Kiesha finally races toward a rewarding new career. Douda (Curtiss Cook) deals with the fallout of Q’s murder and its effect on the shifting loyalty of his inner circle. Victor’s (Luke James) bold declaration of love for both his new girlfriend and his beloved community will impact his political ambitions. Happily married Jada (Yolonda Ross) mentors Emmett and her besties as they navigate relationships.
Kevin (Alex Hibbert) is becoming a brilliant master gamer but struggles with theyouthful pitfalls of early independence. Jake (Michael V. Epps) launches a new business, and Papa (Shamon Brown Jr.) falls for an older woman while questioning his faith. What will become of their pursuits will be revealed over the course of this season’s sixteen jaw-dropping episodes.
Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe and her Hillman Grad banner (Twenties, Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award® and Emmy winner Common (Selma), THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. Produced entirely in its namesake city, THE CHI is produced by 20th Television.
During Essence Fest 2023 and prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Blackfilmandtv.com caught up with Curtiss Cook, Luke James, Birgundi Baker and Jacob Latimore as they discussed the upcoming season and how they’ve grown on the show.
What are we getting from your characters this season?
Jacob Latimore: Just a lot. The stakes are higher for all of our characters. I think we definitely are going to see a lot more episodes this season. Are we excited for 16 episodes, instead of 10, so it's incredible. We didn't think the show will go this long. So we're just happy to dive into another bag. This season six is going to be crazy.
What can we expect from Douda?
Curtiss Cook: Well, authenticity. We're going to get to see who and what made him how he is and why he is that way. And sometimes when we get to see somebody's true self, we don't like it all the time. Right? But it's real. I think he's just going to be straightforward. He's going to be honest. And he's going to show you who and what he is. It's gonna be exciting to see and it's going be frustrating.
What about Kiesha? Will she be happy this season?
Birgundi Baker: There will be some ups and downs. Some happy times and not so happy times. I’m excited for everyone to see Keisha be a grown woman. She's a mom, she has a job. She's in a serious relationship. She's a grown woman. I'm excited for that.
Luke, Victor came in and is still sticking around? What’s upcoming for him?
Luke James: Oh, man, I'm still sticking around. I'm trying to make the most of the situation and better of the situation. And you get to watch him fit more into the shoes and feel more of the shoes that have been calling him.
Each of you in other projects have done other projects, but how would you say that this show has made you grow as actors?
Luke James: Oh, it tremendously. The camaraderie that I have with with my classmates, the things we talked about off set and on set, how we dig into the work, get to the work, get to the root of what it is with each scene is. It's been gratifying to be a part of such a pivotal show for the culture of this generation. So yeah, definitely. Challenging in all the ways.
Birgundi Baker: Yes, they’ve thrown everything at me. Kidnapped motherhood, raped, they've thrown everything at me. So I had no choice but to grow. And because we've last ed for so long, I've really been able to live her life as a young girl, a teenager, as a young woman and as a woman. So playing all those different moments and chapters in life, It's really stretched me.
Curtiss, you’re a vet in the game. Are you still learning as an actor?
Curtiss Cook: Definitely. I learn from the people that you around with. The energy that comes from the other cast mates that makes you think differently of what you thought you were going to present. Because acting is reacting. So if someone gives you something, you have to react to that in order for it to live. Also, they've given Douda a lot to do. They made him a mayor of the city. They also made him a businessman. And then they made him a pseudo father of somebody and so the envelope keeps getting pushed in the excitement of what is happening next. It keeps you on your toes and doesn't give you an any opportunity to just sit back and be like, “Oh, I got this. I know what I'm gonna do.” Something new comes at every turn. So that is what challenged me and makes me really happy to go to work.
Jacob, we’ve watched your character grow throughout the seasons.
Jacob Latimore: It's been incredible. I’ve definitely grown and learned a lot through just playing this character and also just having great cast mates to come back in every season. Sometimes it may feel challenging or it just doesn't feel like I'm in that space. I can come around my cast and we can run the lines and it just feels good. And I'm right back in motion, so I think our camaraderie is just a huge testament to just how much we've grown. Our chemistry in every every scene just works. We’re excited to be here. This is amazing and the growth is incredible.