they're going to do a prequel

It does seem like a strange decision, especially since making it a prequel means that the main character from the original movie won't make an appearance unless he shows up at the very end.

As you say, what's it going to be about? I think you're probably exactly right that it will be about the formation of the original group. They'll play baseball, sure, but probably will also have some central adventure that get wrapped up in, kind of like the rescue of the baseball from the Beast in the original movie. Perhaps it will be about some baseball tournament that they play in, a ragtag group of neighborhood kids who upset the reigning district champs.

I've read that it's supposed to be the origin story of "The Beast", kind of like the longer version of the story that Squints tells at the sleepover. I would love for them to go in a totally different, much more dramatic direction and tell the backstory of James Earl Jones' character, in detail. It could be a stand-alone movie, but also something really special for the die-hard fans of the original.

Now now the kids are much too old now to make a prequel