Naman Shrestha
Originally titled ‘L’arène,’ Netflix’s ‘The Arena’ is a French reality competition series that brings together 38 amateur MMA fighters — 19 men and 19 women — who are inducted into a competitive Fight Camp led by three French MMA stars, Ciryl Gane, Cédric Doumbè, and Benoît Saint Denis. While in the Arena, the fighters must rely not only on their physical abilities but also on their mental strength as they compete in a series of challenges, including intense head-to-head fights and cage bouts, for a chance to win €100,000 and earn a pro MMA contract with a prestigious professional league. The extraordinary setting of the Arena plays a vital role in the fighters’ journey, as it introduces all sorts of challenges between them and the cash prize.
The Arena Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘The Arena’ takes place primarily in France, particularly in and around Reims. Minor portions for the reality show are also shot in Thailand. From what we can tell, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the Netflix production was conducted around June 2025, over the course of a few weeks. France and Thailand are highly associated with mixed-martial arts, making them ideal shooting destinations for the competition series.
Reims, France
The production team of ‘The Arena’ utilized the facilities and locales of the city of Reims and its surrounding areas to lens most of the pivotal sequences for the reality competition show. In particular, they reportedly set up camp at Ancien Reims–Champagne Air Base, which is situated approximately 4 miles north of Reims, in the commune of Bétheny. Within the former Front-line French Air and Space Force air base, the filming unit created the Arena where fighters compete in fights and challenges. Located on the Vesle River in the French department of Marne, the city’s culturally rich landmarks and buildings feature in the backdrop of several establishing and aerial shots, such as Porte de Mars, the Place Royale, the Hôtel de Ville, Place Drouet-d’Erlon, and Notre-Dame de Reims.
Thailand
For the purpose of shooting, the cast and crew members of ‘The Arena’ also reportedly traveled to Thailand, the home of Muay Thai. Since martial arts is a popular part of Thailand’s culture, it served as the ideal production location for the competition series. Many action films are shot on location in Thailand, including ‘The Furious,’ ‘Beast,’ ‘Extraction,’ ‘Rambo,’ ‘Mechanic: Resurrection,’ ‘Street Fighter,’ ‘Mortal Kombat,’ and ‘Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior.’
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