Other than whomever it was who went with me to see the film in early 2006, I have no idea if anyone I know saw Hoodwinked. That fact actually works as a statement of the film’s quality. It’s the kind of film that isn’t really worth discussing; you were either mildly amused by it or you weren’t. However, if you and your friend were for some reason inclined to debate Hoodwinked, that conversation would go something like this:

You: That movie was alright. That squirrel was kind of funny.

Your friend: The animation was lame.

You: I’m hungry.

What I’m saying is that Hoodwinked is harmless enough that you forget it exists right after you watch it even if you enjoyed it, and those who dislike it forget about it before it ends.

Even so, the independent animated film cost a mere $15 million (it showed) and made over $51 million domestic, so a sequel was greenlit. Reactions to that announcement went something like this: “Alright.”

Which is probably why no one knew Cory Edwards, the director of Hoodwinked and co-writer of its upcoming sequel Hoodwinked 2: Hood Vs. Evil, has a blog. In a post he made last Tuesday (that people began reading yesterday), Edwards let spill a pile of names whose owners will provide their voices for the new film.

Apparently Glenn Close (Granny), Andy Dick (Boingo) and Patrick Warburton (The Wolf) will be returning. Apparently Anne Hathaway (Red) and Jim Belushi (The Woodsman) will not. In their places will be Hayden Panettiere and Martin Short. Yep, it’s that girl from that show we communally dislike and that guy who was funny when I was a kid. Though Short did have at least one quality moment this decade when he popped into Arrested Development.

But that’s not all! Edwards lists a boatload of other new names: Joan Cusack as a witch, Brad Garrett as the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, Wayne Newton as the giant’s magic harp, David Alan Grier as a troll, Amy Poehler and Bill Hader as Hansel and Gretel, or, respectively (I assume), Gretel and Hansel.

My reaction to those names? Bill Hader is pretty funny when he’s in movies rather than on TV, Amy Poehler is funny on occasion, Brad Garrett has a deep voice, David Alan Grier has a made a lot of shit and Wayne Newton has a fake face because he’s old.

Hoodwinked 2: Hood Vs. Evil, which is directed by Mike D’Isa, finds Red as she and the Wolf search for Hansel and Gretel. You will be either mildly amused or not mildly amused sometime this year.