Need Help: Hood won't release or open

The release under the steering wheel isn't doing anything, and the hood catch in the grill won't release it so I can't open the hood.

Anybody encountered this before?

 

There should be a cable behind dash release. Maybe it isn't in slot. You can pull the end of the cable with pliers and should work. Otherwise you have to do threw front.

 

How do I go through the front? Cable won't work. Battery dead.

 

I had this happen on a f-150. Hadn't opened the hood in a couple months, I have a sports car and during nice weather the truck sits.
The latch had a small amount of rust that wouldn't release.
Solution, with a helper holding the release under the dash open, I crawled under the bumper with a hammer and piece of rebar. Thread the rebar up til it rest on the latch and tap until it releases.
If this doesn't work I would remove bumper and work up until I could access the latch.
Can you access the grill and remove with the bumper in place?
This is if you can't open useing Andy's advise.

 

The release latch cable is not retracting. Everything appears to be hooked up.