There's something to be said about art imitating life. But if art starts to imitate art, then there could be some problems legally.

Yet, the author of the novel "Forever" says he has no intention to sue the producers behind Fox's upcoming show "New Amsterdam," despite what he says are very peculiar similarities.

"To try and prove anything about tis would take thousands and thousands of dollars, which I'd rather spend on my grandson," said Pete Hamill, who wrote "Forever" in 2003. "You've gotta laugh."

Someone might be laughing all the way to the bank, and it likely won't be Hamill. The author's story involves a character named Cormac who was brought back to life after being killed centuries before. His burden is that he is immortal and that he has a scar from the wound that killed him, so he moves to Manhattan, plays the piano, and hits the dating scene while looking for the one woman that will allow him to die in peace.

That's not "New Amsterdam," by the way, but it's close. In the Fox series, its lead character dies hundreds of years before, is resurrected and given eternal life, and having to find a woman that would allow him to finally die, he decides to move to Manhattan. And he likes to play the piano, and bears the scars of his death.

"I guess what I think about it is this ... the subject of immortality has been compelling to, since the dawn of time, various cultures," series showrunner David Manson told the Associated Press. "I think that it's not ... it's not surprising that there will be overlaps in this world. That's all I can say."

Manson maintains that "New Amsterdam" was created independent of Hamill's book, and that immortality is nothing new. In fact, the Highlander movie series features a character who has eternal life, as does Capt. Jack Harkness in the British series "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who."

Suing may be too costly, but Hamill wants to make it clear that some of the similarities go beyond coincidence in his opinion. He was able to get a copy of the script for the show's pilot and jokes that he found it funny it took "New Amsterdam's" lead character more than 300 years to pass the police officer test.

But even his book's name makes the pilot, Hamill said. On page 58 in the script, the main character gives an envelope with the words "for Eva" written on the front. The words then blend into one to "almost spell 'forever,'" the script said.

"Hey, maybe this will sell the novel," Hamill said. "You've seen the knockoff, now try the book."

"New Amsterdam" is expected to premiere at mid-season on Fox.