One of the puzzling omissions from this year’s Oscar lineup is the score for Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers.” As an adrenaline-surging masterclass in tempo-setting and mood-building, the film represents another high point for composers and Nine Inch Nails members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

When Jonathan Anderson, former creative director of Loewe and founder of JW Anderson, and filmmaker Luca Guadagnino first met over coffee in Milan, the connection was instant and marked the ...