Exclusive | Gladiator II production designer reveals this big scene in the original film was actually filmed in a parking lot

One of the most pivotal scenes in the original “Gladiator” blockbuster was filmed in a place you might not expect: a parking lot. Arthur Max, production designer for both “Gladiator” and “Gladiator II,” told The Post that the Roman tent where Maximus (Russell Crowe) was arrested in the 2000 movie had to be built in a parking lot after time ran out for filming in the English woods, which had turned into a muddy mess.In the film, Maximus was arrested for refusing to swear allegiance to the new Emperor of Rome, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), after the brat kills his father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). The arrest sets the rest of the story in motion as Maximus escapes execution, is enslaved, and becomes a gladiator — a role he uses to plot revenge against Commodus.Before Maximus falls from grace, he leads an awe-inspiring battle against barbarians of the Roman frontier, Germanica (a swath of land covering parts of modern-day Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria). The battle was filmed in January and February of 1999 in a forest outside of London, known as Bourne Wood.Director Sir Ridley Scott burned down a part of the forest for the fight against the Gauls – with the permission of England’s forestry commission, which had slated the area for deforestation. In addition to the battle, other scenes were filmed in Bourne Wood, most of which took place in and outside luxurious tents that the emperor, royal family and high-ranking officials would have inhabited on their campaign.“It was a whole complex.

We created a courtyard of tents,” Max recalled.“We shot all the tent scenes late after the English winter sun went down early so we stayed outside for all the battle scenes as long as we had the light.”Yet one tent was relegated outside of the forest — the one belonging to Crowe’s Maximus.“Maximus’ tent was on its own because it wasn’t part of the compound, which was royal and for nobles; for Commodu...