Martin Scorsese, Jane Campion and Wes Anderson are among the signees of an appeal to stave off the impending threat that a substantial portion of Rome's movie theaters could be converted into shopping centers and supermarkets under proposed regional legislation.

Filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Jane Campion and Wes Anderson are among the signees of an appeal to prevent the threat that a substantial portion of Rome's movie theatres could be converted into shopping centres and supermarkets under proposed regional legislation.

Scorsese responded to a call for support from Rome’s Cinema America group, an organization dedicated to preserving the city’s cinematic culture.

George Lucas on Tuesday joined a drive led by Martin Scorsese and other creative greats to save Rome's cultural spaces and especially cinemas from being turned into malls, supermarkets and hotels. Lucas followed his old partner Steven Spielberg who signed the appeal on Monday.

A new Italian law could turn the city's theaters into shopping centers and supermarkets. Scorsese, Jane Campion, David Cronenberg, Wes Anderson, and more stand against it.