Just looked it up 10 min ago, so it wouldn't be fair to offer an answer now.
IT lalways amazed me..You've got this great book franchise..sells millions, like clockwork..guaranteed success, and millions of guys dyig to see it..so Hollywierd buys the rights, pays a bundle, then all these idiots sit around a big table, and ask themselves..OK we've got this sure-fire hit, with built in sequels. How can we screw it up?