Casting extras in Chicago for 2026 season on Showtime’s “The Chi”.
This page has been updated for the 2026 season 8 of The Chi.
The Showtime series, The Chi, is coming back for season 8 and is currently in production in the Chicago area.
The Chi is created by Boomerang creator Lena Waithe and produced by Fox 21 Television Studios. Lena Waithe won an Emmy for Netflix’s Master of None. Lena Waithe also exec. produces The Chi along with fellow producers, Common, Ayanna Floyd Davis, Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone.
The show is a look into life in a notoriously rough neighborhood of Chicago’s south side and a group of young adults who live there. The Chi stars Jason Mitchell, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross and Armando Riesco.
According to producers, Season 8 is the last season started filming on 01/14/26.
See more shows that are also filming in the state of Illinois
About The Show:
The South Side of Chicago carries daily danger, and the smallest and simplest of decisions can have life or death consequences for the residents. Life continues as the kids prep for school and their parents shuffle off to work.
The young adults of the area are trying to scrape a living for themselves, while the elders sit on their front porches and observe the goings on.
The South Side has the potential to crush dreams, and this coming-of-age series focuses on Kevin, a preteen who embraces the normal rites of childhood, Brandon, who makes a leap of faith to succeed in love and life with Jerrika, Emmett, who seeks guidance from his mother, and Ronnie, who is a drifter struggling to be loved. All of them are linked together by sheer coincidence as they seek redemption.
CASTING CALL -THE CHI – Chicago Area ONLY.
RUSH CALL – PROJECT: THE CHI
ROLE: Arcade Kids
FILM DATES: Tomorrow, WED MARCH 11, 2026
CALL TIME: TBD
LOCATION: CHICAGO
RATE: $175/8
________________________________________________
LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN PLAY THE FOLLOWING:
KIDS, AGE: 9-15, MUST HAVE A VALID WORK PERMIT
ETHNICITY AND GENDER: ANYTHERE WILL NOT BE SCHOOLING AVAILABLE FOR THIS FILM DAY, SO YOUR CHILD MUST BE OFF SCHOOL TOMORROW IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, AND WE WILL NEED A DOCUMENT TO SHOW THAT PROOF.
To be considered, you must have an EP Casting Profile. To create a profile, click the following link and then follow the instructions on sending the submission e-mail:
https://www.4starcasting.com/extra-registration.html
If you already have a POP profile, you may continue with the submission email. If you have any questions or issues with your profile, you will need to reach out to EP directly: 855-458-9404.
Send an email to extras4thechi@gmail.com with the role “ARCADE RUSH” in the subject line:
1) Confirm you have an EP Casting Profile
2) Please let us know your child has a valid work permit and what the listed issue date is at the top.
3) Include the following information: Name, phone, email, and a photo of your current look for quick reference.
4) Attach a CURRENT, photo of your face AND full body in JPEG format. Make sure the photo is taken in decent lighting.
5) Can you provide proof that your child is off school tomorrow, WED 3/11?
**IF you are submitted to the production for consideration, you will be notified at that point.
We will be in contact with you via the EP Casting Portal if you are in consideration and if you receive an official booking email and must complete all the questions attached to that email.
https://www.4starcasting.com/
To Whom it may Concern:
My name is Coach Haki McLaurin ,
currently work with at risk youth in Chicago Illinois. I also coach a plethora of sports. For the teacher (extra position) but I didn’t see it offered on the website only on the Instagram post are you guys still accepting tryouts. Will bring the authenticity to the roll with a natural feel for any situation. Working with kids that do not listen I work with kids that use a plethora amount of curse words and I also work with some angels. I just said that to say that I think I’ll be a great fit please let me know if there is still an opening.
Best Regards,
I love acting, hard work and working with people.
Extra work is the foundation of bringing a scene to life. Those who Love acting will put as much heart and sole into their background role as their foreground roles. The joy of storytelling and being around other artists in the industry is like a drug. Enjoy and act your parts well family.