More seriously, it seems this IP just has no place in the blockbuster space of today considering its meager international box office returns
On hindsight, they really did have some bad luck considering the timeframes in which they released in terms of trying to establish a better following for the movie franchise.
2009 -- Not necessarily that bad. Sure, there was Batman, Iron Man before then and Transformers 2 right around the corner, but it had a good start. No one else was doing high budget space adventures anywyay.
2013 -- Oops, people seem to be more interested in this whole superhero business again.
2016 -- Oops, Star Wars came back to the big screen. Y'know... the one franchise they were probably counting on not coming back when they started this whole shindig again?