THE Hammer’s Kim Wheeler was based on a real-life judge with an incredible story. 

Reba McEntire said she was inspired by and also studied the Nevada judge Kimberley Wanker for her movie character.

McEntire, 68, sang her praises for Judge Wanker and explained the premise of the movie.

She said: “The Hammer is a made-up story based on a true-life character Kim Wanker,” she told Yahoo Entertainment.

The 2023 drama movie follows an attorney who has been appointed as the judge for Nevada’s 5th district, following the death of her predecessor.

Her sister, who runs a brothel, then becomes the main suspect in the former judge's death investigation.

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McEntire revealed that she was able to communicate with Judge Wanker, but only over the phone and text as the judge was too busy to host the actress in her courtrooms, according to UPI.

Despite this, McEntire still shared her thoughts on the judge, whom she described as "a character"

McEntire said: “She’s like a live wire, she’s just electric when you’re listening to her.

“I’ve watched videos about her, she sent me a book about how things are out in the three courthouses that she runs, and is a district court judge.”

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Judge Wanker presides over three courthouses that cover 25,000 square miles of Nevada.

One slight difference between this and the movie is that McEntire’s character only goes through two courts in the movie.

McEntire also revealed how she encouraged the movie’s scriptwriters, Karen Wyscarver and Sanford Golden, to add more aspects of Wanker’s real personality and story.

The actress shared how the idea to have the movie character live in the back of her truck came from the real judge. 

McEntire confirmed that Judge Wanker often slept in the back of her truck as she traveled between her three courthouses. 

She said: “It's a pop-up tent thing on the back.

"She pretty much loves to be outside, sleep under the stars."

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