When it came to time to saddle up and film the Western "Appaloosa," director/co-writer and star Ed Harris knew one thing that that he didn't want to do with the project: reinvent the (wagon) wheel.

"If there was anything purposeful, it was attempt to be a homage to the classic Western, other than an attempt to modernize, revise or make something different," Harris said in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I didn't want to bring anything new to genre other than the story I had to tell, which I think had its own unique quality."

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Set in the Old West territory of New Mexico 1882, the film follows city Marshal Virgil Cole (Harris) and his deputy and partner, Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) as they ride into the mining community of Appaloosa to bring the murderer of the town's marshal to justice.

But to do so, they must reign in the ruthless ways of a powerful rancher (Jeremy Irons) and his band of outlaws, and survive the test of their longtime partnership when a mysterious woman (Renee Zellweger) comes into their lives.

"Appaloosa" reunites Harris and Mortensen, who previously worked together on "A History of Violence." Harris read Robert B. Parker's novel of the same name while working on "History," and when he asked Mortensen to be in the film version he was intent on making, the "Lord of the Rings" star committed to the project on the spot.

It was welcome news to Harris, who couldn't see anybody else in the part other than Mortensen.

"I was really happy that he was willing to do it because I didn't know what I'd do if he didn't," Harris said.

Opening in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto Friday, "Appaloosa" opens in theaters nationwide on Oct. 3.